City Seal of Knoxville

Designer: Carol La Buddie

Embroiderer: Dorothy Fritz

Year Created: 1990

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The Seal first appeared on the Knoxville city flag as the result of
a nationwide competition won by Knoxville artist, Lloyd Benson. The seal
was adopted by the City Council on October 16, 1896 and is stamped
on all official documents of the city. It consists of a winged wheel of
progress surrounding a shield which is divided into four quarters. Each
quarter contains a symbol to represent marble, mining, transportation,
and commerce. Stalks of wheat on either side of the shield represent
agriculture. The date, 1791, is the year Knoxville was founded. The nine
stars represent the nine communities that made up the city when the
seal was adopted. The word “Progress” is the city motto.